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The Reporter. (Akron, Ohio), 1981-02-07

The Reporter. (Akron, Ohio), 1981-02-07 page 1

> o? K" Ln cr m m O ? H 3 H*- 3 O < tt> " O f- f" =r a ?O (A if < Jt .J ' *7 tj PRE iv-? I "981 tSJje Reporter An antord winning newspaper - concerned and defeated to the service of ai men Th? A ?porter Group AKRON-CANTON CLEVELAND KENT -HA VENN A MA NSFIELD-SA NDUSK EL YRIA -LOR A IN-OBERLIN YOUNQSTOWN-WARREN NORTHEAST OHIO A pght In !Jke Darkness VOL. XII. NO. I FEBRUARY f. 1M1 THRU FEBRUARY 14. 1M1 25 CENTS PER COPY BLACKS FACE A DOLLAR SHORTAGE HOOKS ASSAILS REAGAN'S ADVISORS NAACP Executive Director Benjamin L. Hooka aaaailed President Reagan's advisers' charges that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has created "A new racism in America" by emphasizing affirmative action quotas. In a statement from NAACP headquarters in New York, Hooks said he hopes President Reagan will "ignore their advice and strengthen, rather than weaken, the enforcement of powers of that U.S. Agency ." Racism, he declared, la still too much a part of American life to be given aid and comfort by stripping agencies designed to contain U, of powers of enforcement.by Andrew Sterling KM*1? ,.U S D?Partn>ent of Eduction Office for Civil Rights has dismissed charges of "wx and race discrimination filed by a black high school counselor against Ravenna school officials. But the Apartment has recommended that school counselors do more to encourage black students to take collage preparatory courses. The investigation was prompted by a complaint filed teat spring by guidance counselor Mary Boddie after she was transferred from the high school to the junior high school Mrs Boddie argues that the transfer was discriminatory because the other three high school counselors are white mates She also charges that because , of the transfer, the needs of female and minority high school students are not being adequately served. Superintendent James Coll hM "id that Mrs Boddie 's transfer was based solely on seniority. A report on the department's investigation was released Friday. Coll said he has given the report to Law Director Frank Cimino, and that a comment on the report would be made after review Although the Department of Education did not uphold the discrimination charges against Mrs Boddie. it did recommend that more effort should be put toward encouraging minority students to take college Preparatory courses. Mrs. Boddie said that was her main concern in filing the grievance and that she was pleased with the department 's findings The investigation was based on a questionnaire-type inquiry of counselors and about 25 students last October. Quoting from the department's report 'even though the evidence ?hows that all students are treated equally with respect to their race, nevertheless the statistics show that a much lower percentage of minority college-bound students graduate with college preparatory diplomas than do non-minority college bound students "The minority students may need extra encouragement and attention from the counseling staff in order to achieve the same results as the nonminority students," according to the report In the report, the department encourages" school officiate to take appropriate actions" to ensure that the percentage of minority college-bound students who graduate with college preparatory diplomas will be comparable to white students who graduate with college preparatory diplomas Mrs Boddie said comments Dr. Bmjamln Hook* NO RACISM FOUND Mary Boddir from the white male counselors interviewed in the report, such as that blacks are not as future or career oriented as whites, or that they don't have to take college preparatory courses to get into college, are discriminatory, misleading and confirm her feelings that the counselors are not sensitive to the needs of minority students. Mrs. Boddie said she was told by several minority students last year that they had not been encouraged to take college prep courses by their counselors "for reasons related to their race." One senior, Thomas O'Neil, was denied admission to Baldwin Wallace College because of his high school course selection, Mrs. Boddie said. An investigation is underway by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, which Mrs. Boddie said will look more thoroughly at the charges relating to her transfer. "I am more than ever convinced that sex and race discriminatory practices have taken place in the past and are continuing to be practiced by the superintendent," Mrs. Boddie said. "My strong conviction remains that seniority was not the reason for my transfer to the Junior high school," she said. "There were definitely other alternatives that could have been taken to keep a female counselor as part of the staff at the high school without reference to seniority." "It is a tad thing in America, today," he continued, "that so many people confute steps taken to ensure equal treatment under law in respect to jobs, achool admiasion policies and other initiativea in our livea ? affirmative action ? with quotas," A process he describes as "blindly playing a numbers game." The Reagan adviser* views are part of an EEOC transition team report prepared by Reagan aidea, portions of which appeared in columns in the Wall Street Journal. NEWS FLASH Mr. and Mrs. Michael Brown of New York City announce the birth of their son on February 4, 1981. The bouncing baby boy weighed 6 pounds. Mrs. Valanta M. Ellis Brown is the daughter of Rev.-Atty. William R. Ellis, the Editor and Publisher of the Reporter newspaper. JOINT MEETING The Akron Baptist Ministerial Alliance and the 14th Congressional Black Caucus will hold a Joint meeting at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, 180 Edward St. on Saturday, February 7, 1981 at 10:00 a.m. Special guest. Mayor Roy Ray, will address the meeting. All members are urged to be present and on time according to Rev. Bell Smith, the host pastor. Rev. Elvin H. Brown is the president of the Black Caucus. Following the meeting, a press conference is called for Monday, February 9th at 9:00 a.m. for an announcement Police Exam High Scorer Failed To Get Appointment Lynette Dearmon, a black, female applicant for the Akron Police Department filed a $400,000 law suit in U.S. Federal Court against the City of Akron and officials alleging race and sex discrimination. Ms. Dearmon charged that Mayor Roy Ray, Police Chief Robert Pease and Personnel Director, Nancy Kadlec all joined in denying her appointment to the Akron Police Force despite the fact she scored 99.4810. Yes, 99.4810 - on the wirtten exam and passed all the remaining exams with flying colors. Ms. Dearmon is represented by Akron Attorney, Edwin L. Parms. Parms said "Unfortunately, it looks like the City is still playing games when it comes to selecting blacks and females." Parms went on to say, "This is not an isolated case, we expect that still more cases of a similar nature, will be filed soon." Ms Dearmon said "I studied for months and months for the exam and after almost scoring a perfect score, I thought I had a good chance of being appointed. It's not fair." LISTEN TO NEWS BREAK Every Sunday 9:30 P.M. WCUF AM 11 50 The courts of the country arc critically clogged and, according to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Warren E. Burger, the problem is obvious and soluble: too many courts are sticking with inefficient, outmoded sytems Writing in the February Reader's Digest, Burger says: "Every court day, some 100,000 Americans report to our 3000 MISSIM PERSON V vonne Spaulding Age 16, Wt. 135 lbs. Ht. 5 ft. 5 in. Last seen in Cleveland wearing dark pants, white sweater, red and white saddle bucks, white short Jacket with fur on hood - for any information please call (216) 4512855Dearmon, in her suit, claimed that Akron officials took such action because it ia their Intent and purpose to "keep the number of female and black police appointees to a limited and restrocted number of the total appointments." Other charges contained in her law suit were: 1. On or about September 5, 1980, David Ostrowske did prepare a background, investigative report on plaintiff, said report was deliberately and negligently prepared In a factually inaccurate manner and contained numerous false and misleading statements; that defendants did intentionally slant and include false and misleading statements in said report for the purpose of discriminating against plaintiff because of her race and sex ; and did thereafter rely upon same in excluding her from appointment to the Akron Police Department. 2. Defendants failed to contact all of plaintiff's references in an attempt to discriminate on the basis of race and sex. 3. Defendants failed to give adequate consideration to plaintiff's overall employmentrecord. Furthermore, defendants placed disproportionately, excessive weight on the employment with her previous employer in an effort to discriminate against the plaintiff on the basis of race and sex. On information and belief, plaintiff's overall record is far superior to present white males that were on the eligibility list and appointed by the City of Akron to its police department. 4. Defendants' discriminatory actions were deliberately and maliciously designed to keep her off the Akron Police Force because of her race and sex and JURY SYSTEM CREATES A BOTTLENECK jury-using federal and state courts Tbeir terms average ten days, and they decide 300,000 civil and criminal cases a year. For their time they are paid 9300 million, an average $10 a day, and their absence from regular Jobs cost the nation's economy an estimated $1 billion in lost productivity." This would be a small price to pay if the system were an efficient one, he observes, but all ux) often it is not. There are important breakthroughs that have helped some communities ease their bottlenecks. Following a computer analysis of the 245 jury trials held in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia one year, a system for forecasting needed jurors was developed. The court was able to cut the number called from 350 a day to fewer Utan 90, saving $900,000 in juror fees the first year alooe A similar system, developed in the Center for Jury Stodies deduced the ciH for five Manhattan jury pools frdO) 1400 daily to fewer than 900 - with no slowdown in the court process and a first-year savings of better than 91 million. To end what Burger terms "lawyer brinkmanship" - where parties wait until a case is brought to trial before they settle - he cites these remedies. Judges should have the discretion to compel litigants to pay heavy court costs. In Gainsville, Fla., the seven state circuit judges hold pretrial hearings where litigants are encouraged to settle out of court. Because of this procedure, only 31 cases went to a jury out of several hundred potential cases in 1979. In many states and in all Federal courts, judges are authorized to conduct all juryqualification questioning. But in the remaining 28 states, attorneys have this privilege, and they can delay trials and hold up juries for days at a time. Occasionally, because of their complexities, trials reach an unconscionable length. "Clearly it's time for our society to consider whether it will insist on juries in all protracted and complex civil cases," Burger writes. "If not, then courts must decide whether such a change will require a constitutional amendment." As scores of courts are demonstrating, the lot of America's jurors can be made better. HEALTH SPECIAL TASK FORCE Vcrma Bell YOUNGSTOWN, OH ? The American Cancer Society, Inc., Mahoning County Unit ? Ohio Division (MCS) has formed a Special Task Force, devoted to the black community and the subject of black American cancer. Specifically, the task force has planned a day-long workshop program set for Sat., Jan. 31 from 9a.m. -3:30 p.m. in the Kamada Inn on Belmont Ave. ISO participants representing various area black churches and cultural organizations are expected to attend the training seminar. The focus of the program is to train those attending so they can return to their respective organizations and better educate their staffs on the subject of black American cancer. Four workshops comprise the program and include: An introduction to cancer. Colorectal Cancer, Smoking, lung and oral cancers, and Breast and Uterine Cancers. An Introduction U> Cancer includes a film showing en titled: "From One Cell to Man Alive - Challenges to be Met by Trainees." The workshop keynote speakers Include because defendants were committed to keep the number of female police appointees to a limited, restricted number of the total appointments, and likewise black appointment* Eliiabeth Jenkins Elizabeth Jenkins, Residential Chairperson of the Mahoning County Fund Raising Program under the MCS; Bettijane Walker, Coordinator of the Black American Cancer Program, who will be providing the training packets to participants and Dr. Earnest Perry, M.D., speaking on general cancer information and special problems in the black community. "Colorectal Cancer" will include a special film showing entitled: "The Cancer No One Talks About." The workshop leader will be Dr. Armin V. Banez, M D and president of the MCS along with William H. Walker, an honorary member of the MCS. "Smoking, Lung and Oral Cancers" will include the film, "Why Quit Quiz." Workshop leaders will be Dr. James R. Hovell, D O S and Lou Caffo, a recovered lung cancer patient. "Breast and Uterine Cancers" will feature Dr. Henry Ellison, MD and Dr. Earnest Perry, M.D and also includes a film showing, "Something Very Special." Verna Bell, a "Reach to Recovery" trainer will also participate in the fourth and final workshop. For further information on the MCS "Special Task Force on Black American Cancer" workshop, contact the MCS at (216 ) 788 504? fey Theodore R. Wll.oo My readers may be surprised when they have read this article which contains some stubborn facU known to me. It is my opinion that the present day black student attending schools end colleges cannot And these '*cta in school text books as they should I am aware of the fact that few blacks have accomplished worthwhile advances while in a jreat way working ?g?tm| against them. They should never forget the vidous cycle of disfranchisement still exists. Blacks should consider education as one major priority, but never let themselves become Top-Heavy after learning to read and write. Thev should not let a few dollar. ?akf . * fooJ of themselves should they be able to earn a few. A fool and his money soon part. Black, should not forget how they entered the United States not on the Mayflower, but shackled on slave ships, and sold to do free labor They should not forget that, they shared in the War Between the States, and to remember they have shared in every war involving the United States, and none of them have destroyed race prejudice. I was in the city of Chicago in July 1919 when the last e( the Buffalo Division arrived from abroad. I was at the park when close of a war to save the life of this nation. East St. Louis was riot seen* atao 01 1 most bloody K happened becaiae there were organized labor unions striking there. And blacks who were migrating there, and taking Jobs held by striking workers were opposed. They could not Join the unions because they were black Americans by birth. Time nor space would allow me to describe what I know was ,c*u*e The Postmaster In Norfolk, Va? refused to allow the Norfolk Journal and Guide (a leading black weekly) to circulate by mail until the High Court ruled The Preddent hid failed to order troops there to quel the riot, and was being criticized by the publication. It should be do secret for many of my readers to know I have traveled over the United States to especially most large urban centers I was In the great city of Philadelphia In 1M4 when the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co. was being pressured by the NAACP and the Fair Employment Practice Commission to hire blacks to fill vacancies as motormen, etc. They being organised, preferred to strike. No buses, no elevators, and no subways were running. We got around the beat way we could. However, after Ignoring executive order by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the war manpower commission considered the Transit Company essential to the war, the government seized the Transit Company until the order was complied with. The strikers were told they would be inducted into the military service If the strike was prolonged. Mayor Bernard Samuel remained neutral In it all. He refused to offer police protection to those who wanted to work while others were on strike. One day 400 men reported when promised they would be protected, but turned back when there was no protection. Blacks have been victims of discrimination in moat large unions Restricted covenants in the union agreements, left blacks economic slaves. Many of thesv ignored executive orders of the president. Of the 3,112 cases effected by pressure from the FEPC and NAACP, only about half of them were Itev. Theodore Wilton favorably and satisfactorily settled. President Roosevelt appointed a committee to check the railroad unions and report the reason why blacks were not being uaed as engineers, conductors, each union ignored his request, and was told the government's FEPC had no authority. He appointed Chief Justice Stacey of N.C. Supreme Court, Judge Holly of Federal Court of Chicago, and Mayor Frank Lausche of Cleveland, Ohio to consult with the Railroad Unions. Blacks must have Jobs, and must know how to appreciate them. They must alao be aware of the fact they need representatives in every department of government local, state and national. I am aware of the fact someone must represent blacks or they may be left out in the cold. They must exercise their voting rights and prove their worth when elected. When A. Phillip Randolph planned to organize a march on Washington in 1491, President Roosevelt moved quickly to defer this activity. He summoned the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, Secretary of War Stimson, Mayor La Guardia of New York, and Eleanor Roosevelt, to deal with the matter. Executive orders were directed to forestall the march, and to require equality in hiring practices in all production and services essential to the war. However, Mr. Roosevelt is said to have made one last request before he died in IMS, "that the FEPT be kept in action." Hoever, Representative Bilbo of Mississippi and his aides were successful in hindering that activity. One of Prfkident Truman's problems was with the hiring practices of the Capital Transit Co. of D.C., being alao pressured even during Roosevelt's life time to change their hiring practices of blacks There was a work stoppage in the nation's capital, and it was seized by the government until conditions were met. During these days, the Los Angeles Railways and buses took warning and started hiring blacks in like manner. At this time there were 18 major industries that were discriminating against blacks. The great Shipbuilding Industries in Ala., and Virginia, were organized to reserve skilled Jobs for whites. We must not forget that we live in a slave holding society. A land of the free. I have lived in Akron since 1917. At the time of my arrival there were only two churches for blacks. From my records we now have an average of 100 church congregations, and I have a record of 246 black preachers, and would-be preachers We have invested millions of dollars for repairing and building churches. All are the moat segregated segment of all society, and will no doubt remain so, as the churches seem to be happy in the rumble seat. Blacks Continued on page 2

> o? K" Ln cr m m O ? H 3 H*- 3 O < tt> " O f- f" =r a ?O (A if < Jt .J ' *7 tj PRE iv-? I "981 tSJje Reporter An antord winning newspaper - concerned and defeated to the service of ai men Th? A ?porter Group AKRON-CANTON CLEVELAND KENT -HA VENN A MA NSFIELD-SA NDUSK EL YRIA -LOR A IN-OBERLIN YOUNQSTOWN-WARREN NORTHEAST OHIO A pght In !Jke Darkness VOL. XII. NO. I FEBRUARY f. 1M1 THRU FEBRUARY 14. 1M1 25 CENTS PER COPY BLACKS FACE A DOLLAR SHORTAGE HOOKS ASSAILS REAGAN'S ADVISORS NAACP Executive Director Benjamin L. Hooka aaaailed President Reagan's advisers' charges that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has created "A new racism in America" by emphasizing affirmative action quotas. In a statement from NAACP headquarters in New York, Hooks said he hopes President Reagan will "ignore their advice and strengthen, rather than weaken, the enforcement of powers of that U.S. Agency ." Racism, he declared, la still too much a part of American life to be given aid and comfort by stripping agencies designed to contain U, of powers of enforcement.by Andrew Sterling KM*1? ,.U S D?Partn>ent of Eduction Office for Civil Rights has dismissed charges of "wx and race discrimination filed by a black high school counselor against Ravenna school officials. But the Apartment has recommended that school counselors do more to encourage black students to take collage preparatory courses. The investigation was prompted by a complaint filed teat spring by guidance counselor Mary Boddie after she was transferred from the high school to the junior high school Mrs Boddie argues that the transfer was discriminatory because the other three high school counselors are white mates She also charges that because , of the transfer, the needs of female and minority high school students are not being adequately served. Superintendent James Coll hM "id that Mrs Boddie 's transfer was based solely on seniority. A report on the department's investigation was released Friday. Coll said he has given the report to Law Director Frank Cimino, and that a comment on the report would be made after review Although the Department of Education did not uphold the discrimination charges against Mrs Boddie. it did recommend that more effort should be put toward encouraging minority students to take college Preparatory courses. Mrs. Boddie said that was her main concern in filing the grievance and that she was pleased with the department 's findings The investigation was based on a questionnaire-type inquiry of counselors and about 25 students last October. Quoting from the department's report 'even though the evidence ?hows that all students are treated equally with respect to their race, nevertheless the statistics show that a much lower percentage of minority college-bound students graduate with college preparatory diplomas than do non-minority college bound students "The minority students may need extra encouragement and attention from the counseling staff in order to achieve the same results as the nonminority students," according to the report In the report, the department encourages" school officiate to take appropriate actions" to ensure that the percentage of minority college-bound students who graduate with college preparatory diplomas will be comparable to white students who graduate with college preparatory diplomas Mrs Boddie said comments Dr. Bmjamln Hook* NO RACISM FOUND Mary Boddir from the white male counselors interviewed in the report, such as that blacks are not as future or career oriented as whites, or that they don't have to take college preparatory courses to get into college, are discriminatory, misleading and confirm her feelings that the counselors are not sensitive to the needs of minority students. Mrs. Boddie said she was told by several minority students last year that they had not been encouraged to take college prep courses by their counselors "for reasons related to their race." One senior, Thomas O'Neil, was denied admission to Baldwin Wallace College because of his high school course selection, Mrs. Boddie said. An investigation is underway by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, which Mrs. Boddie said will look more thoroughly at the charges relating to her transfer. "I am more than ever convinced that sex and race discriminatory practices have taken place in the past and are continuing to be practiced by the superintendent," Mrs. Boddie said. "My strong conviction remains that seniority was not the reason for my transfer to the Junior high school," she said. "There were definitely other alternatives that could have been taken to keep a female counselor as part of the staff at the high school without reference to seniority." "It is a tad thing in America, today," he continued, "that so many people confute steps taken to ensure equal treatment under law in respect to jobs, achool admiasion policies and other initiativea in our livea ? affirmative action ? with quotas," A process he describes as "blindly playing a numbers game." The Reagan adviser* views are part of an EEOC transition team report prepared by Reagan aidea, portions of which appeared in columns in the Wall Street Journal. NEWS FLASH Mr. and Mrs. Michael Brown of New York City announce the birth of their son on February 4, 1981. The bouncing baby boy weighed 6 pounds. Mrs. Valanta M. Ellis Brown is the daughter of Rev.-Atty. William R. Ellis, the Editor and Publisher of the Reporter newspaper. JOINT MEETING The Akron Baptist Ministerial Alliance and the 14th Congressional Black Caucus will hold a Joint meeting at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, 180 Edward St. on Saturday, February 7, 1981 at 10:00 a.m. Special guest. Mayor Roy Ray, will address the meeting. All members are urged to be present and on time according to Rev. Bell Smith, the host pastor. Rev. Elvin H. Brown is the president of the Black Caucus. Following the meeting, a press conference is called for Monday, February 9th at 9:00 a.m. for an announcement Police Exam High Scorer Failed To Get Appointment Lynette Dearmon, a black, female applicant for the Akron Police Department filed a $400,000 law suit in U.S. Federal Court against the City of Akron and officials alleging race and sex discrimination. Ms. Dearmon charged that Mayor Roy Ray, Police Chief Robert Pease and Personnel Director, Nancy Kadlec all joined in denying her appointment to the Akron Police Force despite the fact she scored 99.4810. Yes, 99.4810 - on the wirtten exam and passed all the remaining exams with flying colors. Ms. Dearmon is represented by Akron Attorney, Edwin L. Parms. Parms said "Unfortunately, it looks like the City is still playing games when it comes to selecting blacks and females." Parms went on to say, "This is not an isolated case, we expect that still more cases of a similar nature, will be filed soon." Ms Dearmon said "I studied for months and months for the exam and after almost scoring a perfect score, I thought I had a good chance of being appointed. It's not fair." LISTEN TO NEWS BREAK Every Sunday 9:30 P.M. WCUF AM 11 50 The courts of the country arc critically clogged and, according to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Warren E. Burger, the problem is obvious and soluble: too many courts are sticking with inefficient, outmoded sytems Writing in the February Reader's Digest, Burger says: "Every court day, some 100,000 Americans report to our 3000 MISSIM PERSON V vonne Spaulding Age 16, Wt. 135 lbs. Ht. 5 ft. 5 in. Last seen in Cleveland wearing dark pants, white sweater, red and white saddle bucks, white short Jacket with fur on hood - for any information please call (216) 4512855Dearmon, in her suit, claimed that Akron officials took such action because it ia their Intent and purpose to "keep the number of female and black police appointees to a limited and restrocted number of the total appointments." Other charges contained in her law suit were: 1. On or about September 5, 1980, David Ostrowske did prepare a background, investigative report on plaintiff, said report was deliberately and negligently prepared In a factually inaccurate manner and contained numerous false and misleading statements; that defendants did intentionally slant and include false and misleading statements in said report for the purpose of discriminating against plaintiff because of her race and sex ; and did thereafter rely upon same in excluding her from appointment to the Akron Police Department. 2. Defendants failed to contact all of plaintiff's references in an attempt to discriminate on the basis of race and sex. 3. Defendants failed to give adequate consideration to plaintiff's overall employmentrecord. Furthermore, defendants placed disproportionately, excessive weight on the employment with her previous employer in an effort to discriminate against the plaintiff on the basis of race and sex. On information and belief, plaintiff's overall record is far superior to present white males that were on the eligibility list and appointed by the City of Akron to its police department. 4. Defendants' discriminatory actions were deliberately and maliciously designed to keep her off the Akron Police Force because of her race and sex and JURY SYSTEM CREATES A BOTTLENECK jury-using federal and state courts Tbeir terms average ten days, and they decide 300,000 civil and criminal cases a year. For their time they are paid 9300 million, an average $10 a day, and their absence from regular Jobs cost the nation's economy an estimated $1 billion in lost productivity." This would be a small price to pay if the system were an efficient one, he observes, but all ux) often it is not. There are important breakthroughs that have helped some communities ease their bottlenecks. Following a computer analysis of the 245 jury trials held in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia one year, a system for forecasting needed jurors was developed. The court was able to cut the number called from 350 a day to fewer Utan 90, saving $900,000 in juror fees the first year alooe A similar system, developed in the Center for Jury Stodies deduced the ciH for five Manhattan jury pools frdO) 1400 daily to fewer than 900 - with no slowdown in the court process and a first-year savings of better than 91 million. To end what Burger terms "lawyer brinkmanship" - where parties wait until a case is brought to trial before they settle - he cites these remedies. Judges should have the discretion to compel litigants to pay heavy court costs. In Gainsville, Fla., the seven state circuit judges hold pretrial hearings where litigants are encouraged to settle out of court. Because of this procedure, only 31 cases went to a jury out of several hundred potential cases in 1979. In many states and in all Federal courts, judges are authorized to conduct all juryqualification questioning. But in the remaining 28 states, attorneys have this privilege, and they can delay trials and hold up juries for days at a time. Occasionally, because of their complexities, trials reach an unconscionable length. "Clearly it's time for our society to consider whether it will insist on juries in all protracted and complex civil cases," Burger writes. "If not, then courts must decide whether such a change will require a constitutional amendment." As scores of courts are demonstrating, the lot of America's jurors can be made better. HEALTH SPECIAL TASK FORCE Vcrma Bell YOUNGSTOWN, OH ? The American Cancer Society, Inc., Mahoning County Unit ? Ohio Division (MCS) has formed a Special Task Force, devoted to the black community and the subject of black American cancer. Specifically, the task force has planned a day-long workshop program set for Sat., Jan. 31 from 9a.m. -3:30 p.m. in the Kamada Inn on Belmont Ave. ISO participants representing various area black churches and cultural organizations are expected to attend the training seminar. The focus of the program is to train those attending so they can return to their respective organizations and better educate their staffs on the subject of black American cancer. Four workshops comprise the program and include: An introduction to cancer. Colorectal Cancer, Smoking, lung and oral cancers, and Breast and Uterine Cancers. An Introduction U> Cancer includes a film showing en titled: "From One Cell to Man Alive - Challenges to be Met by Trainees." The workshop keynote speakers Include because defendants were committed to keep the number of female police appointees to a limited, restricted number of the total appointments, and likewise black appointment* Eliiabeth Jenkins Elizabeth Jenkins, Residential Chairperson of the Mahoning County Fund Raising Program under the MCS; Bettijane Walker, Coordinator of the Black American Cancer Program, who will be providing the training packets to participants and Dr. Earnest Perry, M.D., speaking on general cancer information and special problems in the black community. "Colorectal Cancer" will include a special film showing entitled: "The Cancer No One Talks About." The workshop leader will be Dr. Armin V. Banez, M D and president of the MCS along with William H. Walker, an honorary member of the MCS. "Smoking, Lung and Oral Cancers" will include the film, "Why Quit Quiz." Workshop leaders will be Dr. James R. Hovell, D O S and Lou Caffo, a recovered lung cancer patient. "Breast and Uterine Cancers" will feature Dr. Henry Ellison, MD and Dr. Earnest Perry, M.D and also includes a film showing, "Something Very Special." Verna Bell, a "Reach to Recovery" trainer will also participate in the fourth and final workshop. For further information on the MCS "Special Task Force on Black American Cancer" workshop, contact the MCS at (216 ) 788 504? fey Theodore R. Wll.oo My readers may be surprised when they have read this article which contains some stubborn facU known to me. It is my opinion that the present day black student attending schools end colleges cannot And these '*cta in school text books as they should I am aware of the fact that few blacks have accomplished worthwhile advances while in a jreat way working ?g?tm| against them. They should never forget the vidous cycle of disfranchisement still exists. Blacks should consider education as one major priority, but never let themselves become Top-Heavy after learning to read and write. Thev should not let a few dollar. ?akf . * fooJ of themselves should they be able to earn a few. A fool and his money soon part. Black, should not forget how they entered the United States not on the Mayflower, but shackled on slave ships, and sold to do free labor They should not forget that, they shared in the War Between the States, and to remember they have shared in every war involving the United States, and none of them have destroyed race prejudice. I was in the city of Chicago in July 1919 when the last e( the Buffalo Division arrived from abroad. I was at the park when close of a war to save the life of this nation. East St. Louis was riot seen* atao 01 1 most bloody K happened becaiae there were organized labor unions striking there. And blacks who were migrating there, and taking Jobs held by striking workers were opposed. They could not Join the unions because they were black Americans by birth. Time nor space would allow me to describe what I know was ,c*u*e The Postmaster In Norfolk, Va? refused to allow the Norfolk Journal and Guide (a leading black weekly) to circulate by mail until the High Court ruled The Preddent hid failed to order troops there to quel the riot, and was being criticized by the publication. It should be do secret for many of my readers to know I have traveled over the United States to especially most large urban centers I was In the great city of Philadelphia In 1M4 when the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co. was being pressured by the NAACP and the Fair Employment Practice Commission to hire blacks to fill vacancies as motormen, etc. They being organised, preferred to strike. No buses, no elevators, and no subways were running. We got around the beat way we could. However, after Ignoring executive order by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the war manpower commission considered the Transit Company essential to the war, the government seized the Transit Company until the order was complied with. The strikers were told they would be inducted into the military service If the strike was prolonged. Mayor Bernard Samuel remained neutral In it all. He refused to offer police protection to those who wanted to work while others were on strike. One day 400 men reported when promised they would be protected, but turned back when there was no protection. Blacks have been victims of discrimination in moat large unions Restricted covenants in the union agreements, left blacks economic slaves. Many of thesv ignored executive orders of the president. Of the 3,112 cases effected by pressure from the FEPC and NAACP, only about half of them were Itev. Theodore Wilton favorably and satisfactorily settled. President Roosevelt appointed a committee to check the railroad unions and report the reason why blacks were not being uaed as engineers, conductors, each union ignored his request, and was told the government's FEPC had no authority. He appointed Chief Justice Stacey of N.C. Supreme Court, Judge Holly of Federal Court of Chicago, and Mayor Frank Lausche of Cleveland, Ohio to consult with the Railroad Unions. Blacks must have Jobs, and must know how to appreciate them. They must alao be aware of the fact they need representatives in every department of government local, state and national. I am aware of the fact someone must represent blacks or they may be left out in the cold. They must exercise their voting rights and prove their worth when elected. When A. Phillip Randolph planned to organize a march on Washington in 1491, President Roosevelt moved quickly to defer this activity. He summoned the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, Secretary of War Stimson, Mayor La Guardia of New York, and Eleanor Roosevelt, to deal with the matter. Executive orders were directed to forestall the march, and to require equality in hiring practices in all production and services essential to the war. However, Mr. Roosevelt is said to have made one last request before he died in IMS, "that the FEPT be kept in action." Hoever, Representative Bilbo of Mississippi and his aides were successful in hindering that activity. One of Prfkident Truman's problems was with the hiring practices of the Capital Transit Co. of D.C., being alao pressured even during Roosevelt's life time to change their hiring practices of blacks There was a work stoppage in the nation's capital, and it was seized by the government until conditions were met. During these days, the Los Angeles Railways and buses took warning and started hiring blacks in like manner. At this time there were 18 major industries that were discriminating against blacks. The great Shipbuilding Industries in Ala., and Virginia, were organized to reserve skilled Jobs for whites. We must not forget that we live in a slave holding society. A land of the free. I have lived in Akron since 1917. At the time of my arrival there were only two churches for blacks. From my records we now have an average of 100 church congregations, and I have a record of 246 black preachers, and would-be preachers We have invested millions of dollars for repairing and building churches. All are the moat segregated segment of all society, and will no doubt remain so, as the churches seem to be happy in the rumble seat. Blacks Continued on page 2